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Veteran Rangers are an elite sect of New California Republic Rangers who have served long enough and with such distinction that they have earned the privilege of wearing the distinctive NCR Ranger combat armor, considered to be one of the most valuable and awe-inspiring items in the entire New California Republic. The inscription on their signature Ranger Sequoia pistols indicates that the Veteran Rangers carrying them have served in the Rangers for 20 years or more.

In 2281, most of them are deployed in Baja under orders from President Kimball doing what Chief Hanlon describes as "chasing ghosts," but as the conflict with the Legion draws to its climax, they are slowly deployed to the Mojave to boost the NCR's presence in the Mojave Wasteland.

Veteran Rangers have a legendary reputation amongst the people of the NCR and their enemies. NCR troopers will often comment on their reputation for toughness, and even General Oliver's elite NCR heavy troopers admit to being intimidated by them. Members of the Fiends inside Vault 3 advise the Courier to run the other way if they see a Ranger in black armor, remarking that they're capable of picking off entire Fiend patrols from more than a quarter of a mile away. If the Courier kills Ranger Stella in the arena, some Legionaries will remark, "I didn't think anybody could kill a Ranger in single combat."

Veteran Rangers can be found at most major NCR military outposts after the player activates or destroys the Securitron army in Mr. House's secret bunker underneath Fortification Hill. Alternatively, they may spawn after completing the mission
Kings' Gambit. They appear at Camp Golf, Camp Forlorn Hope, and any of the Ranger Stations in the Mojave.

If the Courier is declared a terrorist by the NCR, a group of NCR Rangers will be dispatched to hunt down and kill the player. After the most recent patch, this group will include Veteran Rangers at higher levels. Similar to the Legionary assassins, various bugs currently prevent this encounter from happening more than once, if at all.

The Courier hears about the Veteran Rangers throughout the game, with increasing knowledge of the NCR Veteran Rangers as the story reaches its end. Rangers finally appear themselves in the few quests just before the Second Battle of Hoover Dam.

Two Veteran Rangers accompany Aaron Kimball during his visit to Hoover Dam to protect him as he gives his speech. Depending on which side the Courier's on, they'll either stand out of their way as he/she protects the president, or attack them if he/she tries to kill him during the quest Arizona Killer. If the Courier climbs onto the stage at any time while the president is there, they will automatically attack.

If you side with the NCR in the final battle for Hoover Dam, a squad of Veteran Rangers is sent to ensure that you arrive at the Legate's Camp. They can provide sniper support, follow you, or, after passing a Speech check of 85, pave the way.

If the Courier sides with Yes Man or Mr. House at the Second Battle for Hoover Dam, Veteran Rangers appear flanking General Lee Oliver after he enters the Legate's camp. If the Courier orders the Securitron army to attack Oliver and his Rangers, they will become hostile and attack him/her.

Most Veteran Rangers carry very rare and powerful weapons; at lower player levels they can be found with hunting revolvers, trail carbines, or assault carbines, while at higher levels they carry the Ranger Sequoia, anti-materiel rifle, and the brush gun. Veteran Ranger weapons are typically at between 30% to 60% condition, although their hunting revolver or anti-materiel rifle can be as low as 15% condition at low player levels.

A noticeable number of Veteran Rangers are ghouls, appearing randomly wherever other Veteran Rangers are stationed. This is in contrast to normal Rangers, where the only ghoul members seen in the game are limited to three ghoul Rangers at Ranger station Echo and at Camp Golf. Given the extremely long lifespan of ghouls, it makes sense that they would make up a sizeable portion of the Veterans.

Veteran Rangers posted at sniper towers at Camp Forlorn Hope can have up to 200 .308 rounds in their inventory. Also, they are incorrectly labeled, being named "NCR Ranger."